Police prep for legal pot
EXTRA TIME GIVES BREATHING ROOM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
Law enforcement agencies are welcoming a delay in the implementation of the country’s new cannabis rules, saying they’re ramping up officer training, working on public education initiatives and hoping to beef up roadside screening efforts by the fall.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canadians would be able to start legally purchasing and consuming recreational pot on Oct. 17, a month later than previously indicated.
Various police forces say they’ll be using the next few months figuring out how to best navigate the new legal landscape.
“The extra time allows us just a bit of breathing room to get all our members, both sworn and civilian, trained on how the new legislation is going to impact us,” said Calgary Police Insp. Kevin Forsen, who chairs a committee coordinating the force’s training and response to cannabis and other opiates.
“It’s not just about enforcement for us. It’s a lot of community engagement and education and working with everybody to make sure the transition ... works for everybody.”
Education appears to be a major focus for a number of forces.
The federal pot law, while laying out basic guidelines, largely left provinces in control of how cannabis should be distributed. The result is a patchwork system with different provinces each championing different approaches.
Some bodies, however, are working on developing standards that can guide law enforcement officials from coast to coast.